Indian police arrest Nigerian man Oliver Ugwu Okechukwu in Mumbai for allegedly defrauding a Karnataka woman of Rs 5.5 lakh in a fake marriage scam
Mumbai, India — Police have arrested a 47-year-old Nigerian man, Oliver Ugwu Okechukwu, in connection with a romance scam that defrauded a woman in Karnataka of Rs 5.5 lakh (approx. ₦9.5 million).
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The suspect, who resided in Shivaji Nagar Bonkode Ganv, Khairane Thane, Mumbai, was arrested by operatives of the Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police after a comprehensive investigation, according to Bagalkot Superintendent of Police (SP) Siddarth Goel.
Okechukwu allegedly posed as a London-based professional named “Satya Amit” on a matrimonial website.
He targeted the divorced woman from Ilkal town in the Bagalkot district, gradually gaining her trust with promises of marriage.
A year and a half ago, he contacted the victim claiming he had arrived in India but was detained at the airport by customs officers who allegedly seized Rs 1 crore in foreign currency.
He claimed to be stranded and persuaded the woman to transfer Rs 5.5 lakh via RTGS to help recover the seized funds.
Once the money was received, he vanished, cutting off all contact with the victim.
Realizing she had been duped, the woman filed a complaint with cybercrime police in Bagalkot.
SP Goel confirmed that the suspect operated multiple fake bank accounts and used false identities to target vulnerable women, particularly divorcees.
“He has been running these scams using fake names and multiple accounts. Further investigations are underway to determine if other victims were defrauded across India,” said Goel.
The case has once again raised alarm over Nigerian cybercrime syndicates operating in India.
Authorities noted that many such groups exploit online matrimonial platforms and social media to defraud unsuspecting individuals, often using emotional manipulation.
Indian cybercrime units are ramping up efforts to track digital footprints, monitor financial transactions, and collaborate with international law enforcement to combat the rising tide of cyber fraud involving foreigners.
Okechukwu is currently in custody and will be prosecuted under India’s cybercrime and fraud laws.
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Police are also working with banking institutions to trace the movement of stolen funds and identify any accomplices.
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